2012, 2013, 2015 & 2018 COUNTRY PRESS NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR (CIRCULATION UNDER 2500) Circulating extensively throughout Millicent, Robe, Beachport, Tantanoola, Kalangadoo, Southend & surrounding districts THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 Rain hits just in time J.L. ‘FRED’ SMITH fred@setimes.com.au MILLICENT and district farmers have welcomed timely autumn rain which has fallen since Tuesday afternoon. The Bureau of Meteorology is pre dicting as much as an Imperial inch (25mm) of rain to fall across the Lower South East today, providing welcomed relief to the agricultural sector Anzac Day on April 25 is the traditional time for the bre in the season and today’s anticipated heavy downpours could be the signal for the yearly change in farming activity. The prediction has been welcomed by fourth-generation Furner grazier and Millicent Agricultural Bureau past president Chris Bateman. He said local farmers have burnt off stubble and were now undertaking weed control ahe of sowing. Continued page 2 WELCOMING THE WET STUFF: Millicent Landmark fertiliser spreading and sales manager Donald Gordon checks the rain gauge on Tuesday. No. 11029 | Price $1.50 KCA mill workers secure pay rise THE five-year wage freeze has now ended for 260 workers at the Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill. The Fair Work Commission has recently endorsed a new enterprise agreement for a staggered 4.5pc pay rise and a $1000 cash payment to cover the rank-and-file employees. Commissioner Chris Platt approved the application submitted by mill management with the backing of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU). In his two-page judgement, Comm Platt wrote he had first considered the application at his chambers in Adelaide in March. He sought clarity about the leave provisions for casual employees as they needed to be in accordance with National Employment Standards. Picture: J.L. “FRED” SMITH “I conducted a telephone conference with the parties on March 15 to seek clarification about aspects of the agreement and invited the Junior footy Open for lunch and dinner Full a-la-carte menu Bookings essential 8733 2888 pa 3ge kicks off in Millicent Fresh face in supermarket page 5 applicant (KCA) to address these matters including the provision of an undertaking,” Comm Platt said. The commissioner said he had received written undertakings from the company a fortnight later and he was satisfied they complied with the legislation. Running to 81 pages, the new enterprise agreement covers pay and conditions at the plant until December 31, 2020. A number of classifications pro- vide for annual wages well in excess of $100,000. The higher pay is backdated and applies to July 1 of last year. The new deal was backed by a majority of workers in a secret ballot held in February. CFMMEU president Craig O’Connor said the back-pay process was now under way. Mr O’Connor said his members were pleased the new agreement was now in place. Continued page 2 High praise for volunteer firefighters Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Somerset 745603 MEALS • BOTTLE SHOP • ENTERTAINMENT • BARS • ACCOMMODATION 2 GEORGE STREET, MILLICENT - PHONE 8733 2888 page11